In the novels, the castle is named Eastwatch-by-the-Sea almost constantly. In the TV series, it is called "Eastwatch" the one time it is mentioned in dialogue in the first season, as well as on the map on the [[HBO]] website. However, in the second season it was also called "Eastwatch-by-the-Sea" on-screen, indicating that the two terms are interchangeable.

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In the novels, the castle is named Eastwatch-by-the-Sea almost constantly. In the TV series, it is called "Eastwatch" the one time it is mentioned in dialogue in the first season, as well as on the map on the [[HBO]] website. However, in the second season it was also called "Eastwatch-by-the-Sea" on-screen, indicating that the two terms are interchangeable. Jon Snow also refers to it in Season 3 by the full name "Eastwatch-by-the-Sea".

Eastwatch, or Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, is a castle and port located at the far eastern end of the Wall, where the Wall drops into an inlet of the Shivering Sea called the Bay of Seals. There are nineteen castles along the Wall, but as their numbers fell over the centuries the Night's Watch had to abandon sixteen of them. Eastwatch-by-the-Sea is one of only three manned castles left on the Wall, along with Castle Black and The Shadow Tower.

As the only castle on the Wall located on the sea, Eastwatch-by-the-Sea serves as the port for the Night's Watch. The capital city of King's Landing, as well as the cities of White Harbor and Gulltown, are also located on the eastern coast of the continent, so it is relatively easy for provisions and news to reach Eastwatch.[1]

When Jon Snow infiltrates the wildlings, Orell asks him which of the nineteen castles along the Wall are still manned by the Night's Watch. Jon admits that only Castle Black, Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, and the Shadow Tower are still manned.[5]

In the books

In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, Eastwatch-by-the-Sea serves as the main resupply post for the Night's Watch, with ships stopping there from King's Landing, the Free Cities far to the south, the island of Ibben, and even some wildling fisherfolk who are permitted to trade there. There is also some clandestine smuggling going on there, which is tolerated only as far as that it helps the Watch. The Night's Watch possesses a small "fleet" of ships at Eastwatch, but they are not frequently used and thus often left unmanned and tied up at anchor.

At the start of the books, less than 200 soldiers are based at the Eastwatch.

Naming

In the novels, the castle is named Eastwatch-by-the-Sea almost constantly. In the TV series, it is called "Eastwatch" the one time it is mentioned in dialogue in the first season, as well as on the map on the HBO website. However, in the second season it was also called "Eastwatch-by-the-Sea" on-screen, indicating that the two terms are interchangeable. Jon Snow also refers to it in Season 3 by the full name "Eastwatch-by-the-Sea".